1. HA2453Midland Red HA2453, an SOS ODD ex S. 1925, rebodied in 1929/30 United B26F. Withdrawn in 1938 as a bus and then used as a tree lopper etc in the Leicester Area.Photo taken August 1949, Moira Road, Woodville, near Burton

2. HA2453Second shot of Midland Red HA2453, an SOS ODD ex S 1925 rebodied by United B26F in 1929/30. Withdrawn from passenger service in 1938 then used as a tree cutter in the Leicester area.Photo taken 1949, Moira Road, Woodville, Burton

3. HA2453Rear view of Midland Red HA2453, an SOS ODD ex S 1925 rebodied by United B26F in 1929/30. Withdrawn as bus in 1938 then used as a treecutter in the Leicester area.Photo taken 1949, Moira Road, Woodville, Burton

4. HA2480Midland Red HA2480, an SOS Standard from 1925, withdrawn in 1934. Allocated to Swadlincote Garage in 1932. Some of these had new bodies fitted and lasted until 1938.Photo taken pre 1934, Swadlincote

8. AHA527Midland Red 1632, AHA527, was new in about 1934/5 and was, I believe, classified as a CON (Converted ON). She was withdrawn in about 1956 and was converted into the form shown here as a Mobile Enquiry Bureau.Photo taken Sept 1960, Midland Red Central Works, Carlyle Road, Birmingham

9. HA9459Midland Red 1509, HA9459, an SOS CON new in 1934 with a Short B38F body and rebuilt December 1949 by Knudd. Withdrawn in 1956.Photo taken April 1950, Goseley Estate, Hartshorne, Swadlincote

10. AHA568Midland Red 1733, AHA568, an SOS DON with Brush B36F body new in 1935 and later rebuilt by Carlyle. Withdrawn in 1953.Photo taken November 1951

11. AHA578Midland Red 1693, AHA578, an SOS DON new in 1935 with a Brush B36F body, seen here before being rebuilt at Hooton in February 1952. Withdrawn in 1957.Photo taken October 1951, Leicester Bus Station

12. AHA586Midland Red 1710, AHA586, a SOS DON from 1935 with Brush B36F body, rebuilt by Nudd and withdrawn in 1955.Photo taken November 1951, Leicester Bus Station

13. BHA303Midland Red FEDD 1742, BHA303, new in 1936 with an MCCW H30/26F body. Withdrawn in 1954.Photo taken 1950/1, Leicester Bus Station

15. FHA418I didn't realise it at the time but being employed by Midland Red at Carlyle Road works put me in a fairly privileged position as far as taking photographs was concerned! This is a rare picture of Midland Red type ONC Coach 2286, FHA418, in its final form. Built originally in 1936 the ONCs were the mainstay of the Midland Red coaching fleet until well after the Second World War.Photo taken Monday 22 May 1961, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

16. Found in a box of miscellaneous slides in the collection of the late John Boylett was this shot of GC12195, the registration of which which dates from July/August 1958. The 'SP' plate indicates that the vehicle was plying for hire still in Midland Red livery. It was operated by "Transportes Sardina-Doctoral", owned by J. Dominguez Melian, Sardina Cruce who ran a service from Sardina to Doctoral, its Midland Red identity being unknown according to P.S.V. Circle publication O43R2.

17. CHA551Seen at the rear entrance to Midland Reds' Bearwood Garage in July 1958 is, what is believed to be, one of only two full fronted conversions of a Midland Red SON, No 1927, CHA551. Withdrawn from passenger carrying duties in 1952, 1927 was converted to dual control with the full front shown and was used for driver training purposes based at Bearwood depot. She was withdrawn in 1962.Photo taken July 1958, Bearwood Garage

18. EHA470Midland Red 2172, EHA470, an SOS SON from 1938 with English Electric B38F body. Withdrawn eventually in 1954.Photo taken May 1950, Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch

19. EHA742Midland Red 2174, EHA742, an SOS SON from 1938 with English Electric B38F body. Withdrawn in 1956.Photo taken April 1950, Goseley Estate, Hartshorne, near Swadlincote

20. FHA207Midland Red SOS FEDD 2225, FHA207, from 1938 with a Brush H30/26F body. Withdrawn in 1957.Photo taken July 1951, Leicester Bus Station

21. FHA238Midland Red SOS FEDD FHA238 with a Brush H30/26F body, new in 1939 and withdrawn in 1957.Photo taken 1951, Swadlincote Bus Station

22. FHA403Midland Red 2271, FHA403, an ONC type with a Duple C30C body, new in 1939 and withdrawn in 1958.Photo taken c. 1956, London Victoria Coach Station

23. FHA411B.M.M.O. 2279, FHA411, an S.O.S ONC new in 1939 with a Duple C30C body converted to C31C in 1951.Photo taken Saturday 28 June 1958

24. FHA874In 1960 I was probably in a fairly privileged position as I was working at Midland Red's Carlyle Road Central Works and was therefore able to take photographs 'in parts that others couldn't reach'. By late 1960 all of the FEDDs had been withdrawn with just a few retained for driver training and staff transport purposes. This latter use is illustrated here with four examples retained for transporting workmen from the factory to and from their homes. The lead vehicle is fleet no. 2370, FHA874, and is seen with three others undertaking similar duties. Regrettably none of these fine vehicles survived into preservation.Photo taken October 1960, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

25. GHA309Midland Red SOS SON 2390, GHA309, with Brush B38F body, new in 1940 and rebuilt in August 1950 by Nudd, withdrawn in 1957.Photo taken Monday 19 December 1949, Memorial Square, Coalville

26. GHA310Midland Red SOS SON 2391, GHA310, with Brush B38F body new in 1940 and rebuilt in February 1950 by Nudd. Withdrawn in 1958; in July 1962 noted with a showman at Stafford. Taken in High Street Woodville; the old pot kiln behind was used as part of a furniture shop.Photo taken Thursday 30 June 1949, High Street, Woodville

27. GHA323Malta Y-0429, a BMMO SOS SON built in 1940 with Barbara B40F bodywork from circa 1958.Photo taken 1990s, Bus Station, Valletta, Malta

28. GHA326Midland Red SOS SON 2407, GHA326, new in 1940 with a Brush B38F body, withdrawn August 1952.Photo taken c.1950, Swadlincote Garage

29. GHA337Midland Red 2418, GHA337, an SOS SON with Brush B38F body, new in June 1940, seen in service on the A435 near Wythall.Photo taken Monday 6 April 2015, A435

31. GHA925Ex-Midland Red 2501, GHA925, was a Guy Arab new in 1943 with a Weymann H30/26R body. It was withdrawn in 1956 and passed to Warner, Tewkesbury along with two others. This one was not operated by Warner.Photo taken Sunday 13 July 1958, Tewkesbury

32. GHA968Samuel Ledgard GHA968 was new in 1944 as Midland Red 2533, a Daimler CWA6 with Duple H30/26R body. It arrived with Ledgard in 1957 and was withdrawn in 1960.Photo taken Saturday 20 April 1957, Park Place, Leeds

33. GHA968Ledgard, Armley GHA968, which was a Daimler CWA6 with a Duple H30/26R body, is seen at the King Street terminus in Leeds. It had been acquired, in 1957, from Midland Red, where it had been number 2533 and had been new in 1944, with the body being rebuilt by Willowbrook in 1950/1.Photo taken Sunday 3 March 1957, King Street, Leeds

34. HHA26Midland Red 1945 Guy Arab 2574, HHA26. This is being restored and this picture shows its condition in October 2004 at Wythall.Photo taken Tuesday 12 October 2004, Wythall Transport Museum

35. FHA422Midland Red 2290, FHA422 an ONC type with a Duple C30C body, new in 1939 and withdrawn in 1958 and alongside 4226, UHA226, a C3 class with 37 seat Willowbrook body, new in 1954, seen on a busy day at the coach stationPhoto taken c. 1956, London Victoria Coach Station

36. JHA836Hulleys of Baslow 20, JHA836, a 1946 BMMO S8 with Metro-Cammell body seen at the operator's yard on July 18th 1965.
Photo taken Sunday 18 July 1965, Baslow Garage

37. HHA697Hulley's of Baslow 11, HHA697, a BMMO S6 built 1947 with BMMO/Brush B40F bodywork. New as Midland Red 3096, this was modified by Roe to B44F in 1958.Photo taken New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield

38. JHA24Seen in February 1961 is Midland Red type AD2 no 3123, JHA24, at the Company's Central Works in Carlyle Road Birmingham. 3123 was one of a batch of 100 buses ordered from the AEC company and supplied with Brush bodywork. 3123 was new in July 1948 and was withdrawn in January 1961. It is seen here awaiting its fate after withdrawal, which proved to be to go as a driver training vehicle and staff bus until April 1963.Photo taken February 1961, Central Works, Carlyle Road, Birmingham

40. JHA820In 1961 the Midland Red bus company were keen to convince the Ministry of Transport and the Metropolitan Police that it was both possible and safe to operate buses longer than 30 feet in and out of London. To demonstrate the point they took an S8 single decker and lengthened it to 45 feet. With a police escort, the vehicle made several clandestine visits to London at weekends. The vehicle converted was 3220, JHA820.Photo taken Oct 1960, Midland Red Central Works, Carlyle Road, Birmingham

41. JHA820This is a picture of the early dismantling of Midland Red S8 3220 prior to being temporarily lengthened to 45' in connection with the Company's bid to convince the Ministry of Transport that vehicles longer than 30' could be safely operated between Birmingham and London.Photo taken April 1959, Midland Red Central Works, Carlyle Road, Birmingham

42. JHA820Enlarged section of Midland Red S8 - 3220 showing detail of the construction and the earlier extension work undertaken by C H Roe of Leeds in 1952Photo taken April 1959

43. JHA860JHA860, Midland Red 3260, seen at Whipsnade Zoo was a B.M.M.O. S8 new in 1948 with a Metro Cammell B40F body. In 1951 it was, along with others extended by Roe to become B44F. The whole batch of 3200-3299 were so treated by Roe in 1951/2.Photo taken Sunday 17 May 1959, Whipsnade Zoo

45. KHA301Preserved Midland Red BMMO C1, KHA301, waits for its passengers. It was new in 1948.Photo taken Sunday 14 June 2009, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

46. KHA301BMMO C1 KHA301 has been off the road since the beginning of 2013. A small team are working their way through the rebuilding and they put the vehicle on it's wheels recently and it came out to see day light and to make sure it sits correctly - they have still got a long way to go, with the front roof dome now needing to be removed to enable new front near and offside ash pillars to be joined to good wood in the roof structure.Photo taken Tuesday 2 June 2015, private site in Coventry

47. KHA301Preserved Midland Red 3301, KHA301, a B.M.M.O. C1 with a Duple C30C body, seen climbing New Bank on its way out of Halifax, heading for Harrogate on the Trans-Pennine Rally.Photo taken Sunday 6 August 1972, New Bank, Halifax

53. KHA319Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus 3319, KHA319, was a BMMO C1 with a Duple C30C body new in 1949 and is seen at Ascot.Photo taken Saturday 21 June 1958, Ascot

54. LHA373Midland Red 3373, LHA373, on a hot sunny June day in 1965, seen in a really beautiful old part of Shrewsbury.Photo taken June 1965, Shrewsbury

55. LHA400Former Midland Red 3400, LHA400, a BMMO S9 with Brush body new in 1949, seen here operating for Hulleys of Baslow, Derbyshire.Photo taken Sunday 14 April 1968, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield

56. MHA457This is a photograph that I took on a sunny day in May 1961 and shows Midland Red D5 3457, MHA457, awaiting its next turn of duty outside Wigston Depot.
Photo taken May 1961, Wigston Depot

57. GRY763Midland Red 4844, GRY763, was a Leyland PD2/1 with a Leyland L27/26R body new as Kemp and Shaw, Leicester number 30 in 1950. It was acquired with the business on January 1st 1959 and was the only lowbridge vehicle in the B.M.M.O. fleet.Photo taken Saturday 9 February 1963, St Margaret's Bus Station, Leicester

58. KHA351I hardly ever took pictures of buses / coaches when taking slide films up to 2008 and I certainly never bought any. This one was given to me over 20 years ago but I cannot remember who gave it to me. I found it recently and it shows one of the Midland Red C2 coaches, KHA351, a 26 seater coach new in May 1950.
Photo taken c.early 1964, High Street, Buckingham

59. KHA356To aid the development of Midland Red's prestigious Coach Cruises 12 special coaches were introduced in 1950. Based on the C1 the bodywork was again by Duple to a Midland Red design and was of C26C configuration, designated C2. Seating was later increased to 30. This photograph shows 3356, KHA356, in Central Works following a pre-season check prior to return to Bearwood Depot for the 1961 season.Photo taken April 1961, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

60. NHA694Photographed in April 1961 Midland Red S13 MkI prototype no. 3694, NHA694, passing Bearwood on Hagley Road West. New in June 1950, based at Cradley depot all its working life 3694 was finally withdrawn in June 1964. Bodywork was by Brush.Photo taken April 1961, Hagley Road West, Bearwood

61. NHA704Midland Red 3704, NHA704, a BMMO/MCW S10 of 1950 is seen in its final days in the Driver Training fleet.Photo taken 1965, Hill Street, Birmingham

62. NHA735Midland Red 3735, NHA735, was a B.M.M.O. S12 new in 1950 with a Metro-Cammell B44F body.Photo taken Sunday 13 July 1958, Tewkesbury

63. NHA737Seen in the morning of a summer's day in 1963 is Midland Red S12 3737, NHA737, parked on the Digbeth Depot bus park awaiting its next turn of duty. She was new to Digbeth in October 1950 and remained at this depot for the whole of her service life, being withdrawn in April 1965.Photo taken Wednesday 12 June 1963, Digbeth Depot Bus Park

66. NHA750Midland Red 3750, NHA750, a BMMO S12 built in 1950 with BMMO bodywork.Photo taken August 1972, Harrogate

67. NHA750B.M.M.O. 3750, NHA750, B.M.M.O. S12 was new in November 1950 with a Metro Cammell B44F body and was seen in Brighton on the H.C.V.C. Rally.Photo taken Sunday 2 May 1971, Madeira Drive, Brighton

68. NHA785Midland Red type D5B 3785, NHA785, awaiting attention in the grounds of the Companys’ Central Works at Edgbaston, Birmingham. 3785 had a BMMO chassis with Brush 56-seat bodywork, new in 1950, and allocated to Digbeth Depot for the whole of its working life, being withdrawn in October 1963.Photo taken Wednesday 31 May 1961, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

69. NHA798Midland Red 3798, NHA798, was a Brush-bodied D5B, fitted with platform doors for long-distance service. This example is seen about to depart on the interurban route 658 to Leicester.Photo taken 1961, Pool Meadow, Coventry

70. OHA977This is a fairly rare photograph of Midland Red single-decker type LA 3977, OHA977, parked at Central Works in Birmingham. As part of the development programme of ever lighter single deckers 3977 was built in 1950 using chassisless construction and Light Alloy components wherever possible.Photo taken Monday 22 May 1961, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

71. HAW578This was an unusual find for someone used to the standard types operated by BMMO in the 'Black Country'. On a rare trip to Leicester, I spotted this non-standard Sentinel Midland Red single-decker 4846, HAW578. Sentinels were rare among major bus operators in the 1950s and 60s and it is a tribute to the manufacturer that Midland Red decided to operate the two it acquired with the takeover of H Boyer and Son of Rothley, rather than just sell them on.Photo taken Sunday 18 June 1961, St Margaret's Bus Station, Leicester

72. NHA863Midland Red 3863, NHA863, was a BMMO D5B dating from 1951. The B suffix denoted the fitting of platform doors for use on longer distance routes.Photo taken Sunday 18 June 1961, Tamworth Bus Station

73. OHA877Photographed in October 1960 is one of the two Midland Red S13 MkII prototypes 3877, OHA877, a 44-seat vehicle built entirely at Central Works. 3877 was intended for stage carriage work and was seated accordingly.Photo taken October 1960, Central Works, Five Ways, Birmingham

74. OHA891Operating a town service in Shrewsbury, Midland Red 3891, OHA891, was a Brush DP40F bodied BMMO S13Photo taken Friday 17 September 1965, Shrewsbury Bus Station

75. JBC989Midland Red 4845, JBC989, a Leyland PD2/12 with a Leyland H30/26R body new to Kemp and Shaw, Leicester in 1952, was acquired with the business in January 1959.Photo taken Saturday 9 February 1963, St Margaret's Bus Station, Leicester

76. OHA887Midland Red 3887, OHA887, was a B.M.M.O. S13 new in 1952 with Brush DP40F bodywork. It had been repainted into the red/black coach livery in 1956.Photo taken Sunday 13 July 1958, Tewkesbury

77. OHA888Midland Red 3888, OHA888, was a B.M.M.O. S13 new in 1952 with a Brush DP40F body. Along with 3879-3887 and 3889-3918, 3920-3975 it was repainted into the red and black coach livery in 1956.Photo taken Sunday 17 May 1959, Whipsnade Zoo

78. OHA928Most of the Midland Red Digbeth Depot stage carriage vehicles were double deckers as can be seen by the LD8s and D9 surrounding the Dual Purpose S13 3928, OHA928, parked on the Digbeth Depot bus park awaiting its next turn of duty. 3928 was one of the Nudd bodied S13s, new to Digbeth in June 1952 and remaining at this depot for the whole of her service life, being withdrawn in May 1966.Photo taken Tuesday 11 June 1963, Digbeth Depot Bus Park

79. OHA951Seen in April 1961 is Midland Red S13 MkII no 3951, OHA951, fresh from overhaul and repaint at Central Works. The S13s were bodied either by Brush or Nudd and 3951 was built by the latter bodybuilder. They were classified as dual-purpose vehicles and had 40, allegedly more comfortable, seats.Photo taken April 1961, Central Works, Five Ways, Birmingham

80. SHA414The Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway Company’s number 66 was former Midland Red Leyland PD2/20 4014, SHA414, of 1952, one of four bought by ‘the Swilly’ in 1967 (64-67, SHA419/66/14/21). They lasted until 1975/6, number 66 being withdrawn in 1976 and finally being sold for scrap in March 1978.Photo taken 1968, Pennyburn Depot, Londonderry

81. SHA421Another of the four all-Leyland PD2/20s bought from Midland Red by Lough Swilly in 1967, 67, SHA421, carries the later grey and dark red livery in this 1968 photo at Bridge End, where Northern Ireland meets the Republic on the road from Londonderry/Derry to Letterkenny. It was withdrawn in 1975 and survived on private property until 1992 as a storeshed.Photo taken August 1968, Coshquin Customs Post, Buncrana Road, Bridge End, Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland Border

82. SHA431Preserved Midland Red 4031, SHA431, an all Leyland PD2/12, new in 1953, looking as new having just been repainted.Photo taken Sunday 9 October 2011, Wythall Transport Museum

83. SHA431Preserved Midland Red 4031, SHA431, an all Leyland PD2/12, new in 1953, privately owned by a group of people and kept at the Wythall Transport museum.Photo taken Sunday 4 November 2012, Lincoln

84. SHA446Midland Red 4046, SHA446, one of the batch of 100 Leyland PD2/12 with Leyland H30/26R bodies, new in 1953, which introduced the Leyland concealed radiator design. This was designed, at Midland Red’s request, to match their existing D7 design as closely as possible with room for the BMMO logo at the top of the centre panel.Photo taken Sunday 20 October 1963, Pool Meadow, Coventry

85. SHA447Featuring what must be the best looking of the 'tin' fronts on its excellent Leyland body is Midland Red LD8 number 4047, SHA447. New in 1953 it was one of 100 Leyland PD2/12s which had H30/26RD bodies and is seen at Stratford-upon-Avon.Photo taken Saturday 18 October 1958, Stratford-upon-Avon Red Lion Bus Station

87. THA95BMMO D7 4095, THA95, a 1953 build with Met-Cam 63 seat body in Fisher Street Bus Station, Dudley, with the Castle in the background. D17 was a local Dudley service. I would imagine this scene would be hard to reproduce today!Photo taken August 1968, Fisher Street Bus Station, Dudley

88. THA114Midland Red 4114, THA114, seen in Shrewsbury Bus Station carried a Metro Cammell H37/26RD body. It was a B.M.M.O. D7 new in 1954 when it seated 32/26, being upseated in 1955.Photo taken Friday 6 August 1971, Shrewsbury Bus Station

90. UHA190Seen at Weston-super-Mare is Withers, Pontllanfraith UHA190 which was a B.M.M.O. CL3 with a Plaxton Panorama C36F body which was 32' 7½" long. The Plaxton body replaced the original Willowbrook body in 1962 and it was one of sixteen rebodied for Midland Red at the time, this one being Midland Red number 4190.
Photo taken Tuesday 27 July 1971, Weston-super-Mare

91. UHA196Midland Red 4196, UHA196, a 1954 BMMO C3 type with Willowbrook C37C coachwork arrives at a soggy Victoria Coach Station in April 1966.Photo taken Saturday 9 April 1966, Victoria Coach Station, London

92. UHA198Midland Red 4198, UHA198, a C3 class with 37 seat Willowbrook body, new in 1954Photo taken c. 1955, London Victoria Coach Station

93. UHA207In the summer of 1962 my parents took us for a holiday in North Devon. A short bus ride from our caravan camp was Ilfracombe and it was here that I was able to photograph this Midland Red CL3 in its 'one year only' light stone livery. No 4207, UHA207, was parked on the quay at Ilfracombe whilst on one of the Company's luxury Coach Cruises.Photo taken Tuesday 12 June 1962, Ilfracombe

94. UHA220The saga of the livery for the Midland Red CL2s and CL3s was rather drawn out. When the rebodying of the original 16 C3s took place someone had the bright idea of a completely new livery for the prestigious Coach Cruise fleet. All of the CL3s carried a light stone livery in their first year of operation but this was such a radical departure from the traditional red and black coach livery that it was dropped after this first year and colour scheme shown here substituted for the 1963 season. Even the light stone central band was removed before the livery finally settled down. In this photograph CL3 4220, UHA220, is seen loading in Bearwood Bus Station before setting off on one of the Company's prestigious Coach Cruises. 4220 was new in 1954 and had a BMMO designed centre entrance body by Willowbrook.Photo taken Monday 22 July 1963, Bearwood Bus Station

95. UHA220Midland Red C3 4220, UHA220, new in 1954, on route to London passing through St. Albans.
Photo taken Saturday 2 May 1959, Lattimore Road junction with London Road, St. Albans

96. UHA228Midland Red 4228, UHA228, was one of sixty-three Willowbrook C37C bodied B.M.M.O. C3s new in 1954. Sixteen of them were rebodied with Plaxton C36F bodies in 1962 after the chassis had been extended and were reclassisfied to C3Ls.Photo taken Sunday 13 July 1958, Gloucester

97. UHA231Parked on Epsom Downs for the Derby, UHA231, of Leonard, London S.E.24, was a B.M.M.O. CL3 with a Plaxton Panorama C36F body acquired from Midland Red.
Photo taken Wednesday 5 June 1974, Epsom Downs

98. UHA250To service Midland Red's prestigious Coach Cruise business 12 C32C luxury coaches were built in 1954. The chassis was by BMMO, the bodywork by Alexander and designated C4. All were upseated to C37C in 1959. This photograph shows 4250, UHA250 in Central Works following a pre-season check prior to return to Sandacre Street Depot, Leicester for the 1961 season.Photo taken April 1961, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

99. UHA272Midland Red 4272, UHA272, parked in Shrewsbury, not looking at it's best with a dent in the rear panel and presumably diesel spilt on the side.Photo taken June 1965, Shrewsbury

100. VHA425Midland Red, 4425, VHA425, was a BMMO D7 with a Metro-Cammell body.
Photo taken 1970, New Street, Birmingham

101. XHA455Midland Red 4455, XHA455, was a BMMO D7 with a Metro-Cammell body to a BMMO design of 1955.
Photo taken 1966, Nuneaton Bus Station

102. 573AHAThe final image of this set of images taken at Midland Red's Carlyle Works in early 1963 is S14 4573, 573AHA, which seems to be at the works for accident repairs incurred whilst in service from Bromsgrove garage.
Photo taken early 1963, Carlyle Works, Birmingham

103. XHA525Midland Red 4525, XHA525, was one of their large fleet of Metro-Cammell bodied D7's.Photo taken 1960, Regent Street, Hinckley

104. XHA550Midland Red 4550, XHA550, was one of their large fleet of Metro-Cammell bodied D7's introduced from 1953 until 1957.Photo taken 1970, Birmingham

105. 613AHAOne of the problems of taking photographs of buses 'on the patch' at Midland Red's Digbeth Garage in Birmingham was that the sun was nearly always behind the bus. Very occasionally one was parked differently as was the case in July 1963. In this case one of the first batch of S15s from 1957 (with the black roof livery taken down to the waist rail) posed nicely in the morning sun. (Pity about the litter!) The picture shows Midland Red S15 4613, 613AHA, a Company built vehicle with DP40F bodywork, on 'the patch' awaiting its next turn of duty.Photo taken Thursday 18 July 1963, Digbeth Garage, Birmingham

107. 641AHACarlyle DP40F bodywork was carried by this Midland Red S15 seen in Shrewsbury. 4641, 641AHA seen operating a local town service in the black/red livery.Photo taken Friday 17 September 1965, Hills Lane, Shrewsbury

109. 750BHAMid Warwickshire Motors, Balsall Common, 750BHA, a BMMO D7 built in 1957 with Metro-Cammell bodywork converted to towing duties. This had been Midland Red 4750 and subsequently found its way to the Transport Museum at Wythall.Photo taken August 1980, Balsall Common

110. 767BHAThis is 767BHA, a converted Midland Red / BMMO D7 new in 1957 and which originally had Metro Cammell H37/26RD body before being converted into a tow truck.
Photo taken Saturday 24 February 2018

111. BMMO type C5, built in 1958/9. This unidentified coach is seen speeding northward to Coventry with a Motorway Express service from London. Note the quiet and barrier-free M1.Photo taken c. 1962, Watford Gap Services?

112. 692BHANever the most popular of single deckers amongst the Midland Red crews, the S14 was the culmination of many years development work to lighten vehicles and thereby reduce the running cost. Part of this 'down sizing' included single rear wheels which gave the vehicle a lively ride when lightly loaded. Here we see 4692, 692BHA, in Banbury.Photo taken Sunday 19 May 1963, Market Place, Banbury

113. 722BHAMidland Red 4722, 722BHA, the prototype BMMO C5 with BMMO C37F body which entered service in 1958. On the left is another Midland Red coach, 4186, UHA186, a BMMO C3 coach with Willowbrook C37C body, new in 1954.Photo taken Thursday 21 May 1964, London Victoria Coach Station

115. 789GHA789GHA was number 4789 in the fleet of Birmingham & Midland Motor Omnibus Co. and was a B.M.M.O. C5 with a BMMO C37F body new in 1958.Photo taken Saturday 9 May 1959, Eccleston Place, London

120. 823HHAMidland Red C5 4823, 823HHA, with a Carlyle C37F body was used when new, in 1960, on the Motorway services to London. It was later demoted to stage and is seen here in Shrewsbury.Photo taken Friday 6 August 1971, Shrewsbury

121. 890KHA890KHA was Midland Red 4890 and was a BMMO D9 with a Carlyle H40/32RD body new in November 1960.Photo taken Saturday 28 October 1967, Pool Meadow, Coventry

122. 903KHAEx Midland Red 4903, 903KHA, a BMMO D9 in its later guise on sightseeing duties at Piccadilly Circus.
Photo taken Tuesday 28 September 1982, London Piccadilly Circus/Haymarket

123. 943KHAMidland Red 4943, 943KHA, one of the two D10's built in 1960/1 in their own workshops. These vehicles were intended to be Midland Red's answer to the Atlantean, but their use of underfloor engines proved unsuitable for a double-deck design.Photo taken 1967, Lichfield

124. 943KHA943KHA, BMMO D10 ,fleet number 4943 ,seen at Lichfield Bus Station was one of two double deckers designed by the company with an underfloor engine positioned between the axles, believed to be the first of this design in the world. This left room for a unobstructed lower deck which allowed 35 seats downstairs and 43 above. Built in 1960, it was the forerunner of our flat floor vehicles today.Photo taken July 1968, Lichfield Bus Station

125. 1944HAThis is a photograph taken in the grounds of Carlyle Road Central Works and shows Midland Red D10 Mk II 4944, 1944HA, when brand new and prior to delivery to Sheepcote Street Garage, Birmingham where she joined the other D10, 4943 from May 1961. 4944 was built with a double staircase and twin doors, however the second set were removed in November 1962. She finished her days at Stafford Garage, was withdrawn in January 1973 and scrapped.Photo taken Monday 22 May 1961, Carlyle Road Works, Birmingham

126. 1944HAIn early 1961 I was in the enviable position of working in the Progress Office of Midland Red at the Central Works in Carlyle Road, Birmingham. I was therefore able to take pictures like this one that few other photographers could reach. It shows the D10 MkII (4944 - 1944HA) under construction in the body shop.Photo taken Jan 1961, Mdland Red Central Works, Carlyle Road, Birmingham

127. 1944HASeen in the Bus Station in Cannock is Midland Red 4944, 1944HA, which was the second prototype D10 to be built. It had a twin staircase body and was H37/28D when new in April 1961 with the intention of it being front entrance, rear exit.
Photo taken early 1971, Bus Station, Cannock

130. 836HHAIn the early 1960s the Midland Red (with a little help from Ernest Marples, Minister of Transport) were rewriting everything that was known about the speed of long distance coach services. The CM5T Motorway Coach became a star performer on the newly opened M1 motorway and regularly attained speeds in the 80s with the magical 'ton' being frequently attained.
Photo taken Friday 20 July 1962, Digbeth Coach Station Bus Park, Birmingham

131. 929KHAThe BMMO answer to the London Routemaster was the D9 which started to come off the production lines in significant numbers from 1960 onwards. Seen outside the main office block (behind the photographer) is 4929, 929KHA, fresh out of the factory and awaiting delivery to Kidderminster Depot where she was destined to remain for the next five years. A similar period at Banbury followed with shorter stays at Digbeth and Hereford before withdrawal came in 1973.Photo taken Thursday 1 June 1961, Central Works, Five Ways, Birmingham

132. 943KHAMidland Red 4943, 943KHA, was one of two D10s built by BMMO as prototypes for a possible alternative to the Atlantean and Fleetline.Photo taken August 1976, White Cross, Guiseley, Leeds

133. 3020HAMidland Red D9 5020, 3020HA, on route S90 (or 590?) in Stafford?. Another vehicle of the same type is following.Photo taken Market Square, Stafford

134. 5056HAPreserved former Midland Red 5056, 5056HA, a BMMO S15, built in 1962, withdrawn from service with BMMO ten years later in October 1972 and into preservation ten years after that in 1982.Photo taken Sunday 1 April 2007, Longcross

135. 5056HA5056HA is a Midland Red S15 new in 1962 as fleet number 5056. It had one further operator after Midland Red before being purchased for preservation. It is unusually fitted with 10.5 litre engine as against standard 8.0 litre one and is part of the Roger Burdett Collection and probably his fastest vehicle.Photo taken Sunday 21 November 2010, entering Pool Valley Bus Station, Brighton

136. 5056HAThought I would send in an up to date picture of Midland Red S15 5056, 5056HA, which is no longer in the Roger Burdett collection.
Photo taken Sunday 4 September 2016, near Bewdley

137. 5156HAOne of a batch of 25 Leyland PSU3/4R Leopards with Weymann B53F bodies new in 1962/3, 5156, 5156HA is seen in Nuneaton.Photo taken Sunday 13 October 1974, Nuneaton

138. 5168HA5168HA, seen in Coventry, was Midland Red 5168 and was a Leyland PSU3/4R Leopard with a Weymann B53F body new in December 1962Photo taken Saturday 28 October 1967, Pool Meadow, Coventry

139. 5169HAMidland Red 5169, 5169HA, a Leyland Leopard PSU3/4R built in 1962 with Weymann B53F bodywork.Photo taken September 1974, Lichfield Bus Station

142. UHA233Midland Red 4233, UHA233, was one of the BMMO C3 coaches lengthened and rebodied in 1962. The chassis were redesignated C3L and fitted with Plaxton Panorama C36F bodies.Photo taken Monday 5 August 1963, London Euston Coach Park

147. 5185HAI was fortunate to be working for Midland Red at Digbeth Coach Station in the early 1960s and so was on hand to photograph anything new that turned up. The acquisition of new DP single deckers from an outside supplier was quite an event and hadn't happened for 10 years at that time. Seen here is LS18A 5185, 5185HA, just after delivery from Central Works, following a quality inspection, and ready to enter service the following day. The LS18As had Leyland PSU3/4R running units with Willowbrook 48 seat dual-purpose bodywork.Photo taken Friday 31 May 1963

148. 5216HAMidland Red 5216, 5216HA, a Leyland Leopard PSU3/4R built in 1963 with Willowbrook B53F bodywork.Photo taken November 1977, Burton-on-Trent bus station

149. 5231HAMidland Red 5231, 5231HA seen in Coventry was a Leyland PSU3/4R Leopard with a Willowbrook B53F body new in January 1963.Photo taken Saturday 28 October 1967, Pool Meadow, Coventry

153. 5254HAMidland Red 5254, 5254HA, was a Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX with Alexander H44/33F body and was seen in Leamington Spa.Photo taken Sunday 13 October 1974, Leamington Spa

154. 5256HAAnother image taken at Midland Red's Carlyle Works in early 1963, classified as type DD11 by Midland Red, 5256 5256HA was a Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline/Alexander H44/33F which entered service at Wolverhampton garage 3/63, moving to Harts Hill 2/67.
Photo taken early 1963, Carlyle Works, Birmingham

155. 5273HAMany of us bus enthusiasts who worked for the Midland Red were rather dismayed when, instead of putting the Company's own design D10 into production, they chose instead to go to the Daimler Company in Coventry for the next batch of double deckers. The economics of the situation and the difficulty of retaining sufficient coachbuilding staff at Carlyle Works would have been lost on a teenager like myself at the time. However the DD11 was the 'writing on the wall' for Company vehicle production. Here we see 5273, 5273HA, parked on Birchall Street awaiting its next turn of duty soon after delivery. 5273 was barely two months old at the date of this picture and was a Daimler Fleetline CRG6 with Alexander 77 seat bodywork.Photo taken Sunday 14 July 1963, Birchall Sreet, Deritend, Birmingham

156. 5276HAMidland Red class D11 5276, 5276HA, a Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX built in 1963 with Alexander A H44/33F bodywork.Photo taken July 1974, Leamington Spa Bus Station

157. 5283HAAnother image at Midland Red's Carlyle Works in early 1963, this time a rear view of a DD11, 5283 5283HA, a Daimler CRG6LX Fleetline / Alexander H44/33F before entering service at Sandacre Street garage, Leicester 4/63.
Photo taken early 1963, Carlyle Works, Birmingham

158. 6297HAMidland Red intoduced the D9 in 1959 Seen in Leicester's St Margaret's bus station is 5297, 6297HA, a 1963 built bus working a Leicester local service.Photo taken June 1975, St Margaret's Bus Station, Leicester

159. 6311HAA short series of images taken at Midland Red's Carlyle Works c62/63 starting with brand new D9, 5311, 6311HA, being prepared for service at Kidderminster depot where it entered service 4/63.
Photo taken c.1962-63, Carlyle Works, Birmingham

163. 6376HAMidland Red 5376, 6376HA, a D9 new in 1964Photo taken 1966, Nuneaton

164. 6480HAWillowbrook B52F bodywork was carried by Midland Red S17 number 5480, 6480HA, new in 1964 which was seen in Nuneaton.Photo taken Sunday 13 October 1974, Nuneaton

165. 6545HA6545HA is a BMMO (Midland Red) S16 with BMMO 8 litre 6-cylinder diesel engine and a crash gearbox with a BMMO 52 seat body. 5545 was the very last manual gearbox bus built by BMMO and entered service in July 1964.
Photo taken Monday 2 May 2016, A435 near Wythall

166. AAC21BResplendent (?) in all-over red, as Midland Red 2056, is AAC21B, a Leyland L2 Leopard with a Plaxton Panorama C41F body which started life as Stratford Blue 56 and which is seen here in a congested Victoria Coach Station.Photo taken Saturday 29 July 1972, Victoria Coach Station, London

173. BHA619CMidland Red 5619, BHA619C seen operating a Town Service in Shrewsbrury was a B.M.M.O. S17 with Willowbrook B52F body.Photo taken Friday 6 August 1971, Shrewsbury

174. BHA634CMidland Red 5634, BHA634C, had a Plaxton finished B52F body on a BMMO frame on it BMMO S17 chassis and was seen oerating a town service in Shrewsbury.Photo taken Friday 17 September 1965, Shrewsbury

175. BHA635CMidland Red 5635, BHA635C, a BMMO S17 built in 1965 with BMMO/Plaxton B52F bodywork.Photo taken March 1969, Keele University

176. BHA649CSeen in original condition at Victoria Coach Station is Midland Red 5649, BHA649C, a B.M.M.O. CM6T with a C44FT body new in April 1965.Photo taken Saturday 1 April 1972, London Victoria Coach Station

178. BHA651CMidland Red 5651, BHA651C, a B.M.M.O. CM6T new in May 1965 with a C44FT body is seen in Victoria Coach Station having operated a journey on service M1.Photo taken Saturday 1 April 1972, London Victoria Coach Station

182. EHA415DAn interloper amongst the trolleybuses at the Black Country Living Museum was former Midland Red D9, EHA415D, now owned by Wheels of Nuneaton.Photo taken Saturday 10 June 2006, Black Country Living Museum, Dudley

183. EHA415DPreserved Midland Red D9, EHA415D, seen on a running day in Leicester to commemorate 30 years since the last BMMO D9 doubledeckers were withdrawn from Leicester by Midland Red.Photo taken Sunday 22 November 2009, Leicester

184. EHA415DFormer Midland Red D9 5415, EHA415D, is now part of the Big Red Bus Company, Liverpool where it is used for weddings, parties and corporate hire.
Photo taken Saturday 29 July 2017, Pier Head, Liverpool

185. EHA415DFormer Midland Red D9 5415, EHA415D, new in 1966, and former Royal Blue Bristol RELH6G OTA645G, new in 1969, both in the ownership of Midland Red Coaches.
Photo taken Thursday 22 May 2014, Mallory Park Circuit, Leicestershire

186. EHA424DEHA424D, a BMMO D9 with Willowbrook body was new in 1966 with fleet number 5424. Completely restored between 1997 and 2000 it is part of the Roger Burdett collection.Photo taken Saturday 12 May 2012, private property near Coventry

187. EHA445DThe last D9 5445 built, EHA445D, parked up at Huyton on an evening trip from Burtonwood to Liverpool.Photo taken late 1978, Huyton

188. EHA672DFrom left to right - Midland Red 4233, UHA233, a BMMO CL3 originally new in 1954 with a Willowbrook C37C body, but lengthened and rebodied with a Plaxton Panorama C36F body in 1962; Midland Red 5672, EHA672D, a BMMO CM6T with BMMO C44Ft body, new in 1966; Black & White, Cheltenham 201, SDF201, an AEC Reliance MU3RV with Willowbrook C37C body, new in 1957.Photo taken Summer 1970, Digbeth Coach Station, Birmingham

196. JHA850EWest Midlands PTE 5850, JHA850E, a BMMO S21 built in 1967 with BMMO DP49F bodywork. Previously with Midland Red and almost sheepishly displaying new ownership.Photo taken August 1974, Sheepcote Street

197. JHA866EMidland Red 5866, JHA866E, a BMMO S21 built in 1967 with BMMO DP49F bodywork.Photo taken November 1977, Lichfield Bus Station

199. LHA265FMidland Red had two depots and a considerable presence in Leicester. Seen in the old St Margarets bus station are 6125, LHA625F, a 1967 Daimler Fleetline with Alexander body and 827, EON827V, a 1980 Leyland National.Photo taken Friday 19 September 1980, St Margaret's Bus Station, Leicester

200. LHA615FBristol Omnibus 8606, LHA615F a 1967 Daimler Fleetline/Alexander. A former Midland Red vehicle converted to open top by Bristol Omnibus.Photo taken Tuesday 7 July 1981, Beach Road, Weston-super-Mare

203. PHA505GMidland Red 5905, PHA505G, an S22 45 seat bus new in August 1968.Photo taken Sunday 7 September 2014, Leicester

204. PHA512GSeen languishing at the rear of Midland Red's Nuneaton depot are a trio of BMMO built single deckers and a solitary Alexander bodied Daimler Fleetline.
Photo taken Saturday 18 October 1980, Nuneaton Depot

206. RHA919GThe last home built buses placed in service by Midland Red were the BMMO S23 saloons which dated from 1968-1970. 5919, RHA919G, is now preserved and is seen in Dorchester. The BMMO designed body was very conservative by the end of the sixties.Photo taken Sunday 16 August 2015, Top O' Town Car Park, Dorchester

208. RHA935GThe last in-house single deck vehicle produced by Midland Red was the S23. Seen in Nuneaton in 1980 are 5935, RHA935G, of 1969 and 5987, UHA987, of 1970.
Photo taken Saturday 18 October 1980, Nuneaton Bus Station

210. UHA206HMidland Red bought substantial numbers of Daimler Fleetlines with Alexander bodywork in both single and dual door format. One of the dual door examples is seen here it is 6206, UHA206H, a 1969 example. When photographed it was working a Leicester local service.Photo taken 1980, St Margaret's Bus Station, Leicester

211. UHA225HMidland Red 6225, UHA225H, a Daimler Fleetline CRG6LXB with Alexander H45/30D body, new in 1969, providing a service for Spithead Fleet Review.Photo taken 1977, South Parade, Southsea

221. YHA276JAlthough Midland Red built two prototype successors to the D9, neither went into production. Instead the company bought large numbers of Alexander bodied Daimler Fleetlines. Seen in Nuneaton is 6276, YHA276J, a 1970 dual door example. Loading next to the Fleetline is 348, GJW48N, a 1974 Leyland Leopard PSU3B/2R with Marshall dual purpose 49 seat bodywork.Photo taken Saturday 18 October 1980, Nuneaton Bus Station

222. YHA320JSilver Service (Woolliscroft), Matlock, 56, YHA320J, a Ford R192 built in 1970 with Plaxton Derwent II B45F bodywork. This had been new as Midland Red 6320.Photo taken June 1981, Matlock Garage

223. YHA388JYHA388J, a Ford R192 built in 1970/1 with Plaxton Derwent B27F bodywork (shortened in 1978/9). New as Midland Red 6388 (Class M2) but had been sold on when photographedPhoto taken April 1987, Marton Road, Middlesbrough

226. YHA309JBetween October 1970 and March 1971 Midland Red, Smethwick put 100 Ford R192s into service with Plaxton Derwent II B45F bodies and 6309, YHA309J, was seen in Ludlow.Photo taken Thursday 5 August 1971, Ludlow

229. YHA363JMidland Red surprisingly bought a large fleet of Plaxton bodied Ford R192 chassis in the early seventies. Seen in Leicester is 6363, YHA363J, a 1971 example.Photo taken Friday 15 May 1981, Charles Street, Leicester

230. HHA174LPrimrose Valley of Filey were running a selection of lightweight buses and coaches in the early eighties. Seen at the depot is former Midland Red Ford R1014, 174, HHA174L with Plaxton Derwent 45 seat body. New to Midland Red in 1972 it was acquired by Primrose Valley some 7 years later.Photo taken Tuesday 26 June 1984, Filey

232. JHA227LWhen Midland Red stopped building their own chassis they switched to Leyland for single deck requirements. 227, JHA227L, is a 1973 Leyland Leopard PSU3B/2R with Marshall bodywork to dual purpose specification.Photo taken Sunday 19 June 2011, Rowsley

235. PHA333MDelivered in the swansong era of BET Federation single-deckers in July 1974, Midland Red 333, PHA333M, was a Leyland Leopard PSU3B/2R with Marshall DP49F body classed as S28, SDP28 from 1980. It transferred to the new East company in September 1981 which became Midland Fox in 1983.
Photo taken Wednesday 20 February 1985, Market Street, Ashby-de-la-Zouch

236. PHA370MPreserved Midland Red West PHA370M, a shortened Ford R192 with Plaxton Derwent 23 seat coach body. It was new in May 1974 with a 45 seat bus body.Photo taken 2005, Wythall Transport Museum